Tag: Diplomacy

US Global Music Diplomacy: Secretary of State Antony Blinken sings Muddy Waters song at launch event | Watch

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken launched the Global Music Diplomacy Initiative on Wednesday, September 27. The initiative has been launched as an effort to elevate music as a diplomatic tool for promoting peace and democracy as well as to support the broader foreign policy goals of the United States, according to an official statement of the US Department of State.

Sharing about the launch event, the US Secretary of State posted a video of him singing and playing the guitar.

“I couldn’t pass up tonight’s opportunity to combine music and diplomacy. Was a pleasure to launch the State Department’s new Global Music Diplomacy Initiative,” Secretary of State  Blinken tweeted.

I couldn’t pass up tonight’s opportunity to combine music and diplomacy. Was a pleasure to launch @StateDept’s new Global Music Diplomacy Initiative. pic.twitter.com/6MUfTXO9xK

— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) September 28, 2023

In the three-minute and 57-second video, Blinken was seen singing the 1954 song Hoochie Coochie Man, which was written by Willie Dixon and recorded by Muddy Waters. The song is primarily a reference to the hoodoo folk magic elements.

Meanwhile, the launch event which was organised at the Department of State in Washington DC was joined by the CEO of Recording Academy, Harvey Mason Jr.; the global head of music for YouTube and Google, Lyor Cohen; and the chairman of the board at The John F Kennedy Center, David M Rubenstein.

Besides the US Secretary of State Blinken, the event also featured live performances by Jamie Barton, Gayle, Aimee Mann, DJ 2-Tone, LADAMA and Herbie Hancock among many others.

As per the official statement, this initiative targets to leverage public-private partnerships for creating a music ecosystem that can expand on economic equity and also on the grounds of creativity. This initiative will ensure societal opportunities as well.

The Global Music Diplomacy Initiative also included the American Music Mentorship Programme, which is a partnership between the US Department of State and the Recording Academy. It aims to bring international mid-career music professionals including musical artists, to the US for mentorship and networking opportunities. This mentorship will primarily aim to create support for creative talent and strengthen the creative economy globally.

In addition to the mentorship programme, the initiative also includes the Fulbright Programme which is a US flagship international academic exchange initiative. This has been established in collaboration with the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts to offer new fellowship opportunities for foreign scholars.

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View: India-Turkey ties and the need for a calculated outreach

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Overlooking the mistrust especially when the writing on the wall is yet to fade, is a difficult proposition. But then the rooting principle of international discourse and diplomacy is that there are no permanent friends or enemies but only national interests. This also implies that having a transactional exchange, to begin with is desirable to break the ice for good before we move to a higher orbit in the collaborative matrix. This is also evident in the recent highest-level interactions among Indian and Turkish leaders.

Recently, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit at Uzbekistan capital Samarkand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met followed by a meeting between Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and his Turkish counterpart on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), which is indicative of a conscious effort on both sides to mend the fences and move forward.

PM Modi had visited Turkey to attend the G20 Summit and next year we expect President Erdogan to be in India for the next G20 Summit. Ankara is expanding its footprints in the Eurasian region and is keen for full membership of the SCO as well as be part of the BRICS in addition to NATO which might give it additional leverage across in balancing the geo-political spectrum.

While there is a great potential and perceived commonality of approaches and scope for mutually beneficial objectives and enterprise between the two countries, the relationship has been marred by the ‘Pak factor’ for decades, especially in the context of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).

Moreover, Ankara has been overlooking the Pakistani complicity with extremist groups in cross-border terrorism against India. It has not only raked up the misplaced reference to J&K at the international fora like the UNGA and OIC etc. to please its friend — but condoning terrorism smacks of complicity as the ‘ironclad friends’ do exactly what they should not be doing. They need not forget that extremism and terrorism will bounce back at them too be it in the alleged Kurdish revolt or for the Chinese in Xinjiang against the Uyghurs.

There is no disjunct because terror and extremist groups are well-oiled syndicates operating across geographies and are adept at exploiting societal fissures to their advantage. The recent crackdown on the Popular Front of India (PFI) — a terror group in India also points in the direction and complicity of various countries in the middle east several of whom have closer strategic relations with India.

It was expected that after the Samarkand meeting between the two Principals, President Erdogan may refrain from his rhetoric on Kashmir at UNGA. But the old habits die hard. He could not resist the temptation even if mildly put compared to the previous times when New Delhi condemned and dismissed them or was perturbed.

Erdogan seemingly wanted to be the paragon of peace, despite militarising his own foreign policy from Syria to Libya to Nagorno Karabakh to the Mediterranean, when he uttered “India and Pakistan, after having established their sovereignty and independence 75 years ago, they still haven’t established peace and solidarity between one another. This is much unfortunate. We hope and pray that a fair and permanent peace and prosperity will be established in Kashmir,”.

If they were really interested in peace they could have prevailed upon Islamabad to desist from the affliction of a destructive syndrome. Of course, his penchant for Islamic leadership and Ummah often plays truant to the hidden agenda. India dismissed Erdogan’s comment stating ‘Reference to Kashmir by other countries in UNGA doesn’t matter’.

A nuanced change is visible on both sides. Many would argue that the two should move through a bilateral track but foreign policy is a holistic and serious business. More meet needs to be put in the Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism and India-Turkey Policy Planning Dialogue so that the threshold from tolerance to trust can be abridged.

But then India today is quick and agile to furnish a ‘tit for tat’ in the spirit of reciprocity and disdain. During his meeting with the Turkish Foreign Minister, Dr S Jaishankar also raised the issue of Cyprus (festering since 1974) to be resolved in accordance with UNSC Resolutions.

Jaishankar tweeted “Met FM @MevlutCavusoglu of Turkiye on side-lines of #UNGA. Wide ranging conversation that covered the Ukraine conflict, food security, G20 processes, global order, NAM and Cyprus”. India has also enhanced its strategic outreach to Greece and Egypt and the I2-U2 group as well as other East Mediterranean powers including enhanced defence collaboration with them.

Ankara needs to understand the economic imperative of the bilateral relationship and the historical connection between P2P and Bollywood and Turkish serials bonhomie, Sufi affection and support during the Khilafat movement if nothing else. These are the edifice on which the mutually beneficial relationship across the spectrum can be reconstructed. However, If the needling is the game so be it.

But it has been observed of late that Turkey has emerged as a major mediator in several conflict zones including the Russia-Ukraine War and even in the exercise of its ambitious and somewhat independent “Blue Home Land” foreign policy, Ankara has begun to tweak it a little bit as it has embarked on a rapprochement spree with its erstwhile rivals and competitors in Saudi Arabia, UAE and Egypt as well as Israel even if driven by its economic compulsions.

India is already strategic friends with them hence Ankara’s continued undermining the interests of a potentially beneficial relationship with New Delhi, is illogical to say the least. Apparently, Turkey has been supportive of India’s membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and MTCR regimes while having an ambivalent stand on India’s claim to a seat on UNSC’s Horseshoe Table. Good beginnings could hopefully lead to some positive outcomes.

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View: The great power politics and the shattered Libyan dream

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Over a dozen long years of continued suffering have passed since the Arab Spring struck Libya. A North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) intervention eliminated an autocratic ruler of over 42 years, leading to death and destruction in the trail, and germs of militia groupings, supported by rival groups and powers from the region and beyond, continue to infest the war-ravaged country till date. Interventionist powers had plans for the day after.

Hapless Libyans who hoped and dreamt for a ‘New Libya’ became the victims of the militia-backed power seekers in the East and the West and not much talked about the Southern part of Libya. Instability and power grab by force remain the underlying theme. For years the country has had an ominous distinction of having at least two Prime Ministers and two so-called Parliaments who have undermined any possibility of resolution of the underlying trust deficit, opportunism, instability, disarming of the militia groups and return to normalcy via elections.

Any Libyan watcher and I have served there and witnessed the Libyan desire for normalcy through elections (2012 the best one could ever have), peace, progress, modernity and development, would attest to the failing of Libya mainly by the so-called partisan external stakeholders who exploited the powerful rival militia groups to exercise their own power and interests in the oil-rich country. Oil supplies they did try to manage and so was their effort to contain illegal migration into Europe. But none of these was for the benefit of the common Libyan who continued to hanker for calm.

No wonder, one witnessed the competition among the group of countries on two sides of the aisle. While the Tripoli-led government in Western Libya of PM Dbeibah ( holding onto power beyond his term) is supported by Turkey, Italy and Qatar, the strong man General Khalifa Haftar and PM-designate Fathy Bashagha, out of Sirte, continue to be supported by France, UK, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Russia among others, which is reflective of their own geopolitical competition also elsewhere. The USA plays on both sides.

Berlin Process and UN efforts, to bring the two rival political camps and self-serving institutions, are continuing to bridge the gaps between the two sides so that much-awaited elections are held and smooth power transition is ensured and the legitimate authority could work to stabilise and develop the country to realise the dream of the 2011 Revolution. However, the end result is one step forward two steps backward and the mess gets messier.

Earlier in the week, the two rival militia groups in Tripoli supporting the two governments or Prime Ministers fought an hours-long battle using “the indiscriminate medium and heavy shelling in civilian-populated neighbourhoods” as per UN Mission in Libya. PM Dbeibah and PM-designate Bashagha indulged in mutual recriminations. As per local media reports clashes pitted the Tripoli Revolutionaries’ Brigade militia, led by Haitham Tajouri, against another militia allied with Abdel-Ghani al-Kikli, an infamous warlord known as “Gheniwa,” and later much smaller ones joined in other parts of the city and elsewhere trying to demolish the prevailing pollical stalemate by force. UN and the international community expressed concern and urged an “immediate ceasefire” which goes to show how powerful these non-State actors are.

UAE which has been a major actor in the region and the Libyan revolution urged “urged parties to set aside division, restore calm and serious dialogue, and prioritise the national interest to restore security and stability in Libya. UAE reiterated its stance calling for a solution to the conflict in Libya and its full support for all that preserves the security, stability, and unity of the country in accordance with the roadmap outcomes, Security Council resolutions, and the ceasefire agreement.” The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, formerly the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) issued a similar statement so did others. Like in the past the fighting got over temporarily but could rise with a greater vengeance again if the solution to the basic issues is not found and enforced with public participation and support.

During the past two years even as the apolitical stalemate continued, many countries reopened their diplomatic missions and several even deployed their Ambassadors. Some sense of economic rejuvenation had become imminent. But once again this kind of skirmishes and violence, politically pitted by myopic groups and leaders, may cause the foreign economic engagement to flee yet again. It is, therefore, important that all stakeholders must come on the same page, not only rhetorically, but in true essence and spirit and hold their horses tight for the political race to take place in a democratic landscape free from militia fear and fright.

There have been consistent reports on social media and elsewhere urging India to lift the travel ban and reopen the diplomatic mission. New Delhi has been considering it for some time but the kind of situation that prevails and the past incidents of kidnappings of Indians, difficult evacuations, and fledgling security on the ground and overall unpredictability has left them with a Hobson’s choice. However, for India, it is imperative to be actively engaged with the Libyan dispensations as the stakes are high. Moreover, Time and Tide wait for none.

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View | QUAD members can improve economic cooperation

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The second Quad Summit held in Tokyo is now in the books.

Even as the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues to shift global geopolitics, the four Quad nations — the United States, India, Japan and Australia — reiterated their commitment to territorial integrity and sovereignty and safeguarding rules-based free and open Indo-Pacific.

The Tokyo summit followed on the heels of two previous meetings, first at the Quad Leaders’ Virtual Summit in March, which followed the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Melbourne earlier in February. Both these meetings shaped the agenda for the upcoming summit, which evolved from maritime security, vaccine diplomacy, climate change and critical and emerging technologies to a more comprehensive economic cooperation and enhanced security collaborations. This summit was held at a time when tensions are rising in the region due to the fear of an impending Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

China’s continued belligerence in the Indo-Pacific region and its overt statements of the Quad strategic partnerships as “a confrontational bloc”, have not gone unnoticed. Traditionally, India has been very tactful in its calculated public condemnations of China’s belligerent tactics in the region. The country, however, has taken a more overt stand with the Quad grouping since the Galwan Valley clash of 2020. New Delhi, along with Canberra, Tokyo and Washington has stated the importance of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The Quad group has epitomised the importance of a rules-based international order, which has now become its credo. China, like Russia, is a revanchist power that has expanded its influence across West Asia and displayed militaristic might in the South China Sea, incursions in Kashmir with India, and tensions across the East China Sea with Japan.

US President Joseph Biden recently hosted the ASEAN heads of state in Washington in a show of solidarity for ASEAN centrality and signalling the US commitment to the region. This, like Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines have directly come into the crosshairs of China’s militarisation in the region.

Back in 2008, Australia was initially reluctant to fully commit to Quad objectives, partly due to its burgeoning trade ties with China and investments from Beijing in Australian commodities and infrastructure. Canberra has now seen its ties with Beijing hit choppy waters since former Prime Minister Scott Morrison called for an investigation into the origins of the virus — something that didn’t go down well with Beijing.

In 2021, Australia had also called off infrastructure deals with China. Furthermore, China’s recent agreement with the Solomon Islands has added a layer of security concern. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is on an eight-nation tour to the Pacific, which includes the Solomon Islands, as Beijing ramps up its presence in the region.

Beijing, too, hasn’t taken too well to Canberra’s close ties with the West and has imposed trade sanctions against the country. Australia has lost $20 billion in trade payments since 2019 because of these sanctions.

The Quad is not “Asian NATO” as perceived by China, despite its commitment to keep the Indo-Pacific free and open for all. Quad members have focused on bolstering the economic resilience of stakeholders involved in the Indo-Pacific region by trying to create robust supply chains and a rules-based multilateral trading system. But to date, Quad hasn’t been utilised significantly for economic cooperation by members. There is a necessity and possibility for this to become a reality.

India has recently embarked on a deeper engagement with each of the Quad members on a bilateral level in various areas of development, including security and technology. Earlier this year, India signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Australia. India and Japan have had a comprehensive economic partnership since 2011. A new FTA between the two countries is in the works, and the same goes for the US.

Security does remain a focus, but that is not the sole focus of New Delhi due to the changing dynamics of the global economy. The elixir of opportunities would involve clean energy since India is aiming to become the world’s leading producer of green hydrogen and solar power installations. With India’s various pledges at the COP26 vis-à-vis clean and renewable energy, the country has already started building partnerships and is receiving financing for several clean energy projects as demonstrated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Germany and various EU nations last month. European partners including Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland have lent their support to India’s aspirations in this regard.

India will build upon the US-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) that aims to uplift fair trade along with establishing supply chain resilience without China’s involvement. With several key Asian stakeholders also participating in this Framework, India’s involvement is crucial for the success of the IPEF. As mentioned by a US State Department spokesperson, India will be critical for the IPEF as New Delhi’s interventions in clean energy, supply chain diversity and pandemic response will ensure sustainable progress for this framework. Thus, India should identify its own position in the IPEF as a valued player and leverage the same to foster deeper economic cooperation with its Southeast Asian neighbours as well as the U.S.

The Tokyo edition of the Quad summit presents several opportunities for India to boost its Make in India programme. India’s aspirations of becoming a global supply chain hub are already evident from its indigenous vaccine production and distribution drive that further aims to deliver one billion shots by the end of this year under Quad’s Vaccine Partnership initiative. Thus, it is seemingly possible for India to create further inroads within the Quad.

Furthermore, the ‘Make in India’ initiative, in convergence with Digital India and Skill India, has received support and collaborations from Japan. This was reaffirmed at the India-Japan Summit that was held in March 2022, which highlighted the commitment of both countries to focusing on skill development and providing employment opportunities for their respective citizens.

Such collaborations will go a long way to build upon India’s development programs that directly or indirectly benefit the country’s growth story as a manufacturing hub. Thus, it will be important for New Delhi to leverage its role as a global vaccine supplier and in general as a reliable support to the global supply chain. New Delhi has an excellent opportunity to partner with other Quad members to boost technological research, create financing opportunities, and build capacities in the areas of clean energy, and fair trading partnerships.

—Mukesh Aghi is CEO & President of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum. Views expressed are personal

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France’s youngest president Emmanuel Macron re-elected, calls himself ‘president of all’

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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French President Emmanuel Macron said thank you to those who voted for him after  after winning the re-election. He also praised the majority who gave him five more years at the helm of France. Macron also thanked people who voted for him not because they embrace his ideas but because they wanted to reject far-right rival Marine Le Pen.

“I’m not the candidate of one camp anymore, but the president of all of us,” he said. Macron comfortably won re-election to a second term Sunday, according to polling agencies’ projections. Macron is the the first French president to win a second term in a generation.

In just five years as France’s president, Emmanuel Macron has gone from a young newbie in politics to a key world player and weighty decision-maker in the European Union who has been deeply involved in efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The outspoken 44-year-old centrist, with his non-stop diplomatic activism, doesn’t always get his way but has earned his place on the international scene. He is expected to pivot back to his work on Ukraine.

At home, Macron managed to regain some popularity after the yellow vest protests against social injustice sent his approval to record lows in 2018. Opinion polls say many French praise his presidential stature and consider him up to the job to face major global crises like the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine conflict. They also show that he is often perceived as arrogant and out of touch with ordinary people.

Macron has notably been dubbed president of the rich, especially during the yellow vest crisis. Some critics also denounce a perceived authoritarian attitude, holding him responsible for violent incidents involving police during street protests. The job of president is his first elected office, though he came with a strong pedigree.

A series of political surprises including a corruption scandal involving a key rival thrust Macron toward presidential victory in 2017. He easily beat far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in their runoff that year on promises to free up France’s economy to boost job creation and attract foreign investment. He beat her again Sunday, but the race was closer and Macron acknowledged that some voters had backed him only to keep Le Pen out of the presidency.

Macron’s faith in Europe

Macron, who describes himself as a president who believes in Europe, argues the EU is the way for France to be stronger in a global world.

A strong advocate of entrepreneurial spirit, he has eased rules to hire and fire workers and to made it harder to get unemployment benefits. Critics accuse him of destroying worker protections.

Then the pandemic hit, and he acknowledged the crucial role of the state in supporting the economy, spending massively and vowing to support employees and business via public aid whatever it costs.

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Prime minister Narendra Modi sent wishes to his “friend” on being re-elected. He tweeted, “Congratulations to my friend @EmmanuelMacron on being re-elected as the President of France! I look forward to continue working together to deepen the India-France Strategic Partnership.”

Congratulations to my friend @EmmanuelMacron on being re-elected as the President of France! I look forward to continue working together to deepen the India-France Strategic Partnership.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 25, 2022

US president Joe Biden congratulated Macron and called France “our oldest ally”. “Congratulations to @EmmanuelMacron on his re-election. France is our oldest ally and a key partner in addressing global challenges. I look forward to our continued close cooperation — including on supporting Ukraine, defending democracy, and countering climate change” the US  president tweeted. 

Congratulations to @EmmanuelMacron on his re-election. France is our oldest ally and a key partner in addressing global challenges. I look forward to our continued close cooperation — including on supporting Ukraine, defending democracy, and countering climate change.

— President Biden (@POTUS) April 24, 2022

UK prime minister Boris Johnson, too, congratulated president Macron. He termed France as UK’s “closest and most important allies”. UK prime minister tweeted: “Congratulations to @EmmanuelMacron on your re-election as President of France. France is one of our closest and most important allies. I look forward to continuing to work together on the issues which matter most to our two countries and to the world.”

Congratulations to @EmmanuelMacron on your re-election as President of France. France is one of our closest and most important allies. I look forward to continuing to work together on the issues which matter most to our two countries and to the world.

🇬🇧🇫🇷

— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) April 24, 2022

(With inputs from Associated Press)

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

View: UAE and Israel’s burgeoning partnership; Implications for India and wider region

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Rarely does one see such a hectic and focused diplomatic engagement as is between UAE and its new partner Israel. Little over a year ago the famous Abraham Accords were signed with UAE becoming the first Gulf country to normalize diplomatic relations with the Jewish state. Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan followed and others are managing the interactions and security ties with Israel in camera or without formal engagements.

Decades ago Egypt and Jordan had led the path in a different context by signing Peace treaties with Israel, when situation with regard to Palestine looked tractable. However, wayward his diplomatic style may have been former US Trump and his son-in law and senior Adviser Jared Kushner could take credit for remaining engaged with the Middle east until the end when the landmark Abraham Accords (encompassing the Abrahamic religions) signed and even the rift and blockade between Qatar and Quartet lifted. It has become a game changer.

New Israeli President Herzog was in the UAE on the first ever official visit (January 30) to meet with Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi to discuss bilateral and regional developments as the host country was busy deflecting and intercepting the spate of missiles from Houthis of Yemen who are accused of being Iran backed and supported. He also visited the Dubai Expo 2020 where Israel has been participating and displaying its expertise in a big way. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai also hosted President Herzog in Dubai and held detailed discussions .

This has only been one of the many important visits including that of Prime Minister Naftali Bennet in December and Yair Lapid the Foreign Minister. Nearly every week an Israeli or Emirati delegation has been visiting each other to cement the ties and identifying newer opportunities in defence, security, trade, investment and tourism. No wonder in one year over 2,50,000 Israelis have visited the Emirates.

Even on the trade and investment the track record is pretty good as institutionalisation of relationship undergoes a qualitative change. President Herzog averred “Already our trade has exceeded over $1 billion, more than 120 agreements were signed, and a $100 million (research and development) fund was established recently”.

However, while cyber security cooperation and standard technology transfer and counter terrorism is moving apace, some reports indicate that on the advice of Israeli security agencies and possibly that of the US establishment (suspended the sale of F35s to UAE which then had go in for the French Rafael fighters) defence and advanced weaponry like its famous Iron Dome air defence system (served well during the recent Israel-Hamas war) or David’s Sling weapon systems, despite the UAE and Saudi Arabia facing the onslaught of Houthi drone and missile attacks.

However, President Herzog assured the Emirate of fullest security support against the terror attacks including those perpetrated by Houthis even though Iran was mentioned by name. Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in a telephonic discussion with the Crown Prince condemned the attacks. He announced that all the necessary support would be provided to UAE to counter such terrorist attacks. Apparently, Bennett also ordered the Israeli military to be ready for this purpose.

UAE is carving itself as a model of tolerance and co-existence of all religions and faiths. It organises a World Tolerance Summit annually. Apart from hosting Pope and providing a land for a Hindu temple during PM Modi’s visit the UAE authorities had agreed to build a Synagogue as an integral part of the interfaith compound.

This provides the Emirate a new identity and an acceptable instrument in a region which is infested by religious contestations President Herzog also hoped for other countries in the region to follow the example of UAE while complimenting Sheikh Zayed for taking the lead towards regional stability and peace “I wish him well and I am grateful for his courage and bold leadership, carving out a peace agreement with Israel and sending a message to the entire region that peace is the only alternative for the peoples of the region.”

However, as expected the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Khatib Zadeh condemned the visit calling it as “Invasion, expansionism and crisis-making are part of the nature of Israel’s policy”. He described the normalisation of relations with Israel as a source of “rift-making in the Islamic and Arab worlds”. Arch-rivals and historic Palestine — Israel conflict will continue to dent the smooth sailing.

—The author, Anil Trigunayat is a former Indian Ambassador and a regular contributor on foreign policy issues. Views expressed are personal

Read more from Ani Trigunayat’s articles

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

View: Reconnecting India with Central Asia

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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On January 27, PM Modi will be virtually hosting the leaders from Central Asian countries (CARs) in a first-ever Summit as they celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. C5 constitutes Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan and has a historical and civilizational connection with India which is not a cliché. The leaders were supposed to be the Chief Guests on Republic Day — a unique honor bestowed on special friends. But the prevalence of pandemics turned it into a virtual meeting. No less significant.

Despite the proximity, connectivity has been a major constraint in enhancing and deepening the ties due to the geographic and geopolitical construct of the region. Even though India had launched her “Connect Central Asia Policy” in 2012 and hosted all the leaders post their separation from the Soviet Union in the 1990s but sparse and ad hoc collaboration followed, the visit of PM Modi in 2015 to all the C5 was a prime mover that in many ways laid new foundations for an ever-widening collaborative matrix.

This Summit and several important interactions including the NSA hosted a dialogue with his counterparts along with from Russia and Iran in November in the context of developments in Afghanistan and third dialogue hosted by the External Affairs Minister on December 21 with his counterparts have all been critical in defining the contours of future and ongoing collaboration between the two. It is expected that the Summit level interactions will be institutionalised at a biannual frequency.

The relationship is moving within the ambit of 4Cs — underscoring commerce, capacity building, connectivity, and contact — that encompass the contours of security and terrorism, trade and economy, development partnership, energy security, healthcare, and climate change. The objectives can be predicated on 3Cs — Connectivity unhindered; Counter-Terrorism unabated; and Critical commerce and supplies unimpeded both ways. These imply strategies to overcome the hiatuses caused by strategic rivals like China and Pakistan with their Afghan conduit. How to ensure these under the given geopolitical and geo-economic contestations is a challenge which need to be countered perhaps in collaboration with regional powers like Russia and Iran.

India’s focus on developing defense and security ties even more is evident from the fact that we have Defense Attaches in all the five countries. Current levels of trade at $2 billion is low compared to the Chinese and others. However, India has extended a Line of Credit of $1 billion to help expand ties across the spectrum from defense and security including energy and TAPI , minerals like Uranium to infra to trade, healthcare, services sector including ITCT and Fintech and developmental projects in C5 — which if efficiently deployed with time bound delivery targets could be a game changer . Greater investments in Chabahar port and its integration with the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC) as well as Free Trade Agreement with the EAEU (Eurasian Economic Union) could provide the requisite connectivity until such time that Afghanistan is stabilised.

Central Asia will remain a zone of competition among Russia, West (including US and EU) , China, Turkey, Iran and India — be it geo political, geo economic or geo religious contestation. What happened in Kazakhstan is a mere trailer or a snippet of what are the real fault lines of the CARs. Colour Revolutions are not yet passé in the region. C5 are Going through a churn and turmoil. Terrorism and Extremism is well ensconced and with onset of Taliban is far more accentuated. Youth bulge and uneven distribution of wealth and unmet expectations combined with high level corruption have been the causes of public unrest and need to be addressed by the respective leadership with right kind of inclusive reforms. Regional stability and reliable connectivity will be directly dependent on popular satisfaction and support.

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Competition is the key underlying dimension of the region since they achieved independence in 1990s post demise of Soviet Union. This has been displayed in competition for influence — Russia’s backyard which was recently reasserted during the Kazakh crisis when Moscow sent in peacekeepers under the rubric of CSTO. The West, especially the US looking for help in its ‘Over the horizon’ advent in Afghanistan from where its hasty exit has created more problems for CARs. China ( having long borders ) remains a geo economic giant with its expanding BRI footprint and quest for energy and minerals. Region also remains a geo religious contestation for Turkey (Including Turkic identity), Pakistan, Iran and Saudi Arabia. Afghanistan has become an important pivot for nearly all the external actors in the region.

China’s severe debt burden and aggressive approaches as well as Uyghurs issue all have the potential for it backsliding in the game but for that credible economic alternatives and security choices have to emerge. As of now Russia-China provide it. Hopefully India will find a way to provide the third alternative which C5 are looking for.

—The author, Anil Trigunayat is a former Indian Ambassador and a regular contributor on foreign policy issues. Views expressed are personal

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China’s COVID-19 diplomacy continues, sending medical supplies to Nepal

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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China on May 7 said it will send medical supplies and relief material to Nepal to help the country combat the surge in coronavirus cases. “Nepal is a friendly neighbour and a strategic cooperative partner of China,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Wang Wenbin told a media briefing in Beijing.

He said necessary supplies were collected and would be delivered to Nepal at the earliest. Local governments and various sections of the Chinese society are also providing medical supplies to Nepal, he said, expressing hope that the Himalayan nation would soon prevail over the pandemic.

Nepal is in the midst of a sudden spike in coronavirus cases, prompting the government to order a lockdown till May 12. All markets, schools, colleges, offices, and transportation services, except those operating for emergencies, remain shut.

All domestic and international flights have also been stopped. So far, the coronavirus has killed 3,579 people in Nepal, along with 377,603 confirmed cases, according to The Himalayan Times newspaper, quoting official data.

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India uses yoga diplomacy to assert rising global influence

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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If China has panda diplomacy, India has yoga.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi successfully lobbied the United Nations to designate June 21 International Yoga Day in his first year in power in 2014.

Since then, just as China under President Xi Jinping has given countries pandas for their zoos in a show of goodwill, Modi has used one of India’s most popular exports to assert his nation’s rising place in the world.

On Friday, the fifth annual International Yoga Day, Modi practised various yoga “asanas” alongside an estimated 40,000 people in India’s eastern state of Jharkhand as members of his Cabinet and foreign envoys rolled out their yoga mats in cities around the world.

“Let our motto be yoga for peace, harmony and progress,” Modi said before joining the hourlong practice.

Most of India’s 191 embassies and consulates worldwide organized yoga sessions to commemorate the day, according to the foreign ministry.

The ministry shared photos of yoga flash mobs on the streets of Kiev, colorful yoga mats around Brussels’ Triumphal Arch, sun salutations under the Washington Monument, hundreds in seated prayer pose at Moscow’s Tagansky Park and more than 500 people in identical transparent ponchos and black pants in front of the Yellow Crane Tower in rainy Wuhan, China.

At an event for diplomats in New Delhi featuring India’s foreign minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Israel’s ambassador Ron Malka said Modi’s use of yoga as a tool of diplomacy is “working quite well” to strengthen ties between the two countries.

Walter Lindner, the German ambassador to India, described Modi’s yoga bid at the UN a “clever move.”

“Yoga is a product which you can sell everywhere in the world,” Lindner said, adding that 40 lakh people were participating in International Yoga Day events in Germany.

Modi has also used yoga to bolster his image at home.

Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party won a resounding victory in India’s recently concluded weekslong general elections by promoting a “New India” that pairs rapid economic growth with the trappings of the country’s ancient roots.

After the final day of polling, Modi, who casts himself as a Hindu ascetic who closely follows the religion’s strictures on vegetarianism and yoga, retreated to a Himalayan mountain cave to meditate — with a camera crew in tow.

Modi last year released a 2-minute video showing him practising yoga on his lawn at the prime minister’s residence. Some online commentators used the opportunity to compare Modi with India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.

Many shared pictures of Nehru doing a headstand, an advanced yoga posture. Of the benefits, Nehru wrote in his autobiography, “The slightly comic position increased my good humour and made me a little more tolerant of life’s vagaries.”

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